Page 117 of Alpha Theo

She might think I’m ridiculous, but it’s fucking true- seeing Brooke in this outfit, I’m feeling possessive as hell. If anyone looks at her sideways, I won’t think twice before decking them.

Brooke suddenly takes a little step backwards, drawing a breath as she looks around the bar. “People are staring.” Her voice is small, barely audible.

I grin, sliding my arm around her waist and tucking her into my side proudly. “Let em’ stare.”

She blinks up at me, her cheeks flushing again. “Should we get a drink?”

“Sure.” I lead her through the crowd, spotting Gray and Fallon up by the bar getting drinks of their own.

Brooke doesn’t need to tell me what she wants to drink- I’ve memorized everything about this girl. When we approach, Fallon steps back to say something to her sister and I slide into her place at the bar beside Gray, right as the bartender is bringing over his drinks. I order a beer for myself and a vodka soda for my girl, pulling a twenty out of my wallet to pay and leaning my elbow on the bar top as I wait.

It’s early, so the bar’s still filling up. On Saturday nights, its mostly squad members, and I glance to the door to see more familiar faces piling in- a group of newbies who were in Fallon’s training class.

The bartender delivers the drinks I ordered, and I grab them off of the bar, turning to Brooke and offering her the vodka soda.

She takes it with a smile as Fallon waves her friends over, and I lean back on my elbows against the bar, sipping my beer, trying to play it cool. Shay greets the twins with hugs, and a growl starts in my chest when Boyd does the same.

Gray must hear me because I catch an elbow to my ribs. I shoot him a warning glare but he just chuckles. “Wanna do a shot?”

I grunt, turning my body sideways so I can still keep one eye on Brooke. “Sure.”

Gray leans forward to wave the bartender over, mumbling to me. “You’ve gotta let her do her thing, man. Trust me.”

I trust him, but I don’t want to stand back and watch any other male even look at Brooke.She’s mine, and I’ll be damned if…

“Here,” Gray barks, interrupting my thoughts. He thrusts a shot glass in my direction, and from the amber color of the liquid and the smell I can tell that it’s whiskey.

I take it from him, and we both hold up the shots, tap them on the bar, and drink them down. The liquor burns my throat and I blow out a breath, setting the glass back on the bar top.

“Thanks,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder and turning back around, looking for Brooke.

Oh hell no. Fucking mop top is standing across from her, a dumbass smile on his face as he asks her how she’s been. I was already on edge and seeing this kid has me teetering over it.

I abandon my beer on the bar and I’m at her side in two strides, sliding an arm around Brooke’s waist possessively. “Why don’t you fuck off, Connor?” I grumble, glaring at him menacingly.

“Theo!” Brooke protests, slapping at my chest with the back of her hand. She cranes her neck to look at me, eyes thrown wide.

“What?” I ask sharply.

I glare at Connor again and he’s just staring at me like a deer in the headlights.

Brooke digs her fingernails into my arm, handing her drink off to Shay. “Come on,” she says through gritted teeth, tugging me sideways.

I have no choice but to follow. She seems pissed, but honestly, I am too. She should’ve known that chatting up the guy she used to have a thing for would trigger me.

Brooke leads me through the crowd to the door of the bar, pushing it open. She drops my arm as she steps outside, stomping away from the bar entrance as the door swings closed behind us.

“Where are you going?” I call after her, but she doesn’t turn around- she just keeps trudging away from the bar, toward the path back to the complex.

I heave a sigh, jogging after Brooke, catching up to her right as she reaches the treeline. I grab for her arm, attempting to spin her to face me. She teeters on her heels and almost loses her balance, but I’m quick to reach out for her with my other hand, catching her by the waist.

“What’s wrong with you?” she demands, brushing my hands off of her body as she steadies herself. She folds her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes.

“Are you kidding me?” I ask incredulously. This girl is really putting me through the paces. “I don’t want that fucking guy talking to you.”

Brooke lets out an exasperated sigh. “He was just saying hi, you didn’t have to be rude.”

“I wasn’t!”

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